Bai Fumei in the ’70s Chapter 12
Translated by Serena Love
Proofread by Soupysuspicions
Edited by Ladyhotcomb
Chapter 12
She blushed, staring at the pile of bones on the table. How much meat had she just eaten? She had never eaten so much meat in her entire life!
She looked at Zhao Lanxiang, feeling a rush of emotions she couldn’t quite put into words. But the fullness the meal provided left her with no regrets, even if it were her last moment.
Zhao Lanxiang observed Sister He’s empty bowl and smiled, clearly satisfied.
In a way, Sister He and her beloved had been her saviors. After Jiang Jianjun had physically and mentally scarred her, she had bravely filed for divorce and even exposed their marital scandal to his superiors. Divorce was equivalent to a large, ugly stain on Jiang Jianjun’s booming career. How could he let her off so easily?
Back then, Zhao Lanxiang was a nervous wreck, living in constant fear like a pitiful dog. But Sister He from the He family came to her rescue, teaching that scumbag a lesson he’d never forget.
Smiling, Zhao Lanxiang said, “Granny hasn’t eaten yet. Sister, could you take a bowl of food to her?”
As she spoke, she slid the bowl of rice toward herself. Zhao Lanxiang had handpicked the meat in the bowl and simmered it for an extended period until it became tender. The result was meat with a soft, smooth texture, perfect for the elderly or anyone with bad teeth.
Sister He nodded gratefully, picked up the bowl, and headed to the back room. She had been so captivated by the meal that she’d forgotten her grandmother still hadn’t had her supper. Zhao Lanxiang’s cooking was downright evil. It was too bewitching!
***
The next day, early in the morning, Zhao Lanxiang packed the cold duck meat into a jar, sealed it tightly, and placed it in her bag.
Today marked the start of the weekend, which saved her the trouble of requesting leave from Captain Li Dali. It was also an unusually good day, and she knew the foot traffic in Qinghe county town would be higher than usual. Given the delicious meat she had prepared, Zhao Lanxiang felt it would be a missed opportunity not to head into town and make some money.
Zhao Lanxiang first headed to Captain Li Dali’s house after finishing her packing. As he opened the door and saw her, he frowned and asked, “Here to ask for leave again?”
Zhao Lanxiang shook her head. “Today is the weekend. I came to see Tang Qing.”
She wanted to ask Tang Qing if she could borrow his bicycle, the only one who owned one in the village. Every time Tang Qing rode his model 28 bike down the road, he turned heads and drew envious glances.
After she explained why she needed the bike, Tang Qing happily agreed to lend it to her.
Though Tang Qing wasn’t from her hometown, he came from a nearby city. He was a multi-talented guy who could sing and dance. Whenever a group of educated youths were idly playing poker or smoking on the train, Tang Qing would break out his accordion. He’d not only play a tune but also rally these once-strangers to join in on some group performances.
“Your noodles were delicious and fragrant. I didn’t get a chance to thank you last time,” Tang Qing said.
Zhao Lanxiang, now on the Model 28, waved back at him. “I’ll invite you for another meal in the future.”
Tang Qing stepped out of his house, cautioning her, “The bike is quite tall and not really convenient for girls. Be careful when you’re going down the mountain.”
Zhao Lanxiang waved goodbye and quickly rode off, heading to the county town to sell her meat.
Upon reaching the black market street, she found that the prime spots were already taken. These were locations that not only attracted attention but also allowed for a quick getaway if the police showed up. Being new and relatively young, she had no choice but to find a more secluded spot.
Finding a secluded spot, Zhao Lanxiang spread a clean cloth from her school bag on the ground. The food seller next to her furrowed his brows, perhaps not wanting to be recognized. His hat’s long brim almost completely hid his eyes.
“You’re new here, huh? Just a tip, keep your stuff hidden!” he advised.
Zhao Lanxiang carefully pulled out a pottery jar and slowly lifted the lid.
The cold duck meat had lost its initial domineering aroma, but you could still catch a whiff if you got close enough. The marinated meat didn’t look particularly appealing, and the sauce had congealed a bit.
The young man selling food next to her glanced over and quickly looked away. “Why is it all bones? How much are you charging per pound? Are you accepting meat tickets?”
Zhao Lanxiang replied, “Yes, two pounds for one meat ticket.”
The young man was taken aback. “You’re delusional. I wouldn’t dare sell it for you at that price!”
“Even for the black market, you’re pushing it. You’ll ruin our reputation. The authorities won’t spare you in the future.”
At the mention of “authorities,” Zhao Lanxiang fell silent. She quietly took out a clean bowl and some chopsticks.
It took a while, but she pulled out a stack of prepared notes from her pocket and handed it silently to the people coming and going on the street. In fact, she did not do it aimlessly. She only gave a note when she saw a well-dressed person.
“Delicious duck meat: exclusively prepared and carefully cooked. Spicy, refreshing, and rich without being greasy. Leaves a lasting impression.”
She then showed another note:
“Free taste test. If you don’t like it, you don’t pay.”
The young man beside her looked away, his face seemed to be saying, “Don’t listen to this random person’s words and suffer a loss.”
When her sales pitch fell flat, Zhao Lanxiang didn’t let it bother her. Nearby, a food seller casually chewed on a stalk of grass, leaning against the wall with a faint smirk on his face, clearly amused by the situation.
Undeterred by her lack of immediate success, Zhao Lanxiang remained confident. She caught the attention of a passerby, quickly wrote a message on a piece of paper, and showed it to them.
“Made with a secret recipe. Try it, and if it’s not delicious, you don’t have to pay.”
Passersby instinctively doubted Zhao Lanxiang’s advertising claims. They thought it was too exaggerated. Given how precious meat was, how could she let people try it without paying first?
What if you eat it and she suddenly asks you to pay for it? Fearing a bait-and-switch, most people who saw her sign didn’t stop, and just walked faster.
Undeterred, Zhao Lanxiang took out a pair of chopsticks and a bowl, placing a piece of duck meat in front of potential customers. After repeatedly assuring them that she had no intention of tricking anyone, a skeptical passerby finally took a cautious bite of the duck meat.
In an instant, a fresh and spicy sensation electrified his tongue. It was as if a dazzling firework had exploded in his mind; it was hot and intense. The tingling sensation brought moisture to the corners of his eyes, while a delightful sweetness filled his mouth. He couldn’t stop eating; the more he chewed, the more flavorful it became. Even the bones were infused with this essence.
The man quickly devoured another piece of meat, chewing even the bones clean. The flavor that had seeped deep into the bone marrow was even more captivating than the meat itself. He had never tasted anything so delicious!
Following Zhao Lanxiang to a corner, he lowered his voice and eagerly asked, “Do you have any more?”
Zhao Lanxiang nodded and softly replied, “Yes, it’s 50 cents for a pound or a two-pound meat ticket.”
Though the price stung a bit, it wasn’t unreasonable. The customer bought two pounds of duck meat and a pound of duck necks on the spot, nibbling as he walked away.
The first brave soul had come and gone, and gradually the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth customers followed. Each person who tried it would empty their pockets to buy a little more. The last customer simply bought the remaining duck dish.
They were all amazed, unable to contain their excitement. In hushed voices, they exclaimed, “It’s so delicious, so delicious!”
“Little girl, you’re incredibly skilled. How do you do it? My mother-in-law doesn’t have an inch of skill compared to you.”
“Will you be back tomorrow? I didn’t bring enough money today.”
Zhao Lanxiang responded to each one with a smile, “No, I only come three times a month. The schedule isn’t fixed, so don’t get your hopes up too high. In the future, I’ll also accept cloth tickets, industrial coupons, fish tickets, sugar tickets, soap tickets, and so on. The value will be roughly the same.”
After she finished speaking, she neatly packed up her stall into her school bag and quietly left the black market.
The food seller nearby couldn’t help but sit up straight.
Wow, he hadn’t made any money himself, but it was rare to see someone with such a unique approach.
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